SOURCE: HFBrasil
Brazil exported around 6 thousand tons of bananas in August, a 35% decline compared to July, when shipments reached 9 thousand tons, according to Comex Stat. The main destinations for Brazilian bananas were Argentina and Uruguay, which together accounted for 94% of total exports but reduced their purchases by 28% and 13%, respectively, on a monthly basis.
The drop in exports is linked to lower availability of the nanica banana – the country’s leading export variety – not only in northern Santa Catarina, Brazil’s largest supplier to Mercosur, but also across other producing areas in the South and Southeast. As a result, domestic prices for nanica bananas have strengthened. Looking ahead, exports may shrink even further in the coming months, as the tight supply of nanica bananas is expected to last until early next year.